Oregon Split: Day One in San Diego Ends With Loss To Florida

Howe Field, University of Oregon, KPNW Sports

The Oregon Ducks, ranked second in the country entered the first series of games in the San Diego Classic coming off their first loss of the season last week against seventh ranked Baylor. Mike White took his team to San Diego where even stiffer competition awaited in top ranked Florida. First Oregon would meet St. Johns.

Karissa Hovinga started the game and threw four innings giving up two runs. It did not take the Ducks long to get the bats going on Offense as they would score the next eight runs. St John’s would attempt a comeback and have the bases loaded in the ninth before Hovinga was summoned back to the mound to get the final out in the win. The second game of the day was a different story.

Last season, the Florida Gators had Oregon’s number and after the first of two meetings in the non-conference season it appears that may be the case again in 2015. Oregon sent Cheridan Hawkins to the mound who threw well, but it was fielding that cost the Ducks the game with three errors. Janie Takeda led Oregon with four hits on the day and Koral Costa broke up the no hit bid from Florida in the loss to the Gators.

Hawkins has taken a loss in two straight starts, but allowed just one earned run in each game between Baylor and Florida. Oregon will face Florida again next weekend in the Judy Garman Classic at Cal State Fullerton. The Ducks face host San Diego Saturday night at 7pm Pacific Time.